NOC 43203: Border services, customs, and immigration officers
Border services, customs, and immigration officers administer and enforce laws and regulations related to immigration, customs and border crossing. They are employed by government agencies.
Official Main Duties for NOC 43203
Select the duties you perform in your actual job. Under IRCC guidelines, you must perform at least 60% of these duties for a successful work permit or PR reference letter.
Your employer reference letter must confirm you performed the main actions described in the duties above. Avoid copying words directly from the NOC description — officers expect natural job descriptions with specific company context.
Canadian Labour Market & PR Pathways for NOC 43203
Under Canada's National Occupational Classification (NOC 2021 Version 1.0), Border services, customs, and immigration officers is categorized under TEER 3. Occupations in this tier typically require completion of a 2- to 3-year post-secondary diploma, apprenticeship training, or specialized technical certifications.
Express Entry Alignment
Qualifies directly for the Federal Skilled Worker (FSW) and Canadian Experience Class (CEC) under Express Entry. Work experience must be full-time (or equivalent part-time) and continuous for at least one year.
Target Category Status
Currently evaluated under standard General and CEC invitation rounds, or targeted through provincial in-demand lists such as Ontario (OINP), British Columbia (BC PNP), or Alberta (AAIP).
NOC 2016 to NOC 2021 Transition & Equivalency
Under Canada's previous NOC 2016 classification, this occupation was mapped under the following 4-digit code(s). When preparing your Express Entry profile or work reference letters, you must use the new 5-digit code NOC 43203.
1228 expired and is distributed between emerging items 12104 and 43203
Regional Wages Across Canada
Under Canadian immigration law, an employer hiring you under an LMIA must pay you at least the median wage listed below for your province.
| Province / Territory | Low Wage | Median Wage | High Wage |
|---|---|---|---|
| Canada (National Average) | $24.62 | $40.1/hr | $54.34 |
| Newfoundland and Labrador → | $28.21/hr | $43.08/hr | $43.66/hr |
| Nova Scotia → | $25.97/hr | $30.77/hr | $45.52/hr |
| New Brunswick → | $29.33/hr | $46.15/hr | $56.41/hr |
| Quebec → | $26.5/hr | $40/hr | $50/hr |
| Ontario → | $21.5/hr | $42.68/hr | $55.56/hr |
| Manitoba → | $30.01/hr | $39.47/hr | $49.82/hr |
| Saskatchewan → | $27.38/hr | $39.11/hr | $49.34/hr |
| Alberta → | $16/hr | $33.33/hr | $45.04/hr |
| British Columbia → | $30/hr | $46.15/hr | $56.41/hr |
| Yukon → | $28.91/hr | $39.97/hr | $49.2/hr |
Employment Requirements
These are the education, training, and certification standards usually required by Canadian employers for this occupation:
- Completion of secondary school is required.
- A four-week online training and a four-and-half-month specialized training at the CBSA College are required for border services officers.
- Successful pass of the officer trainee entrance exam (OTEE), successful completion of the Canadian Firearms Safety Course (CGSC) and the Canadian Restricted Firearms Safety Course (CRFSC) is required for border services officers.
- Must pass psychological assessment, physical abilities requirement evaluation (PARE) and medical exam to be a border services officer.
- Border services student officers must complete Control and Defensive Tactics (CDT) training
- Completion of specialized government training is usually required.
- A driver's license is required.
Official Job Titles for NOC 43203
24 Titles ListedIf your current job title matches any of these official examples, this NOC code is likely the right choice for your Express Entry reference letter:
Exclusions (Similar Jobs with Different Codes)
Check this list to make sure your actual job is not classified under one of these related codes:
- Employment insurance and revenue officers (See 12104 Employment insurance and revenue officers)View NOC 12104→
- Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration (See 40011 Government managers - economic analysis, policy development and program administration)View NOC 40011→
- Government managers - health and social policy development and program administration (See 40010 Government managers - health and social policy development and program administration)View NOC 40010→
- Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers (See 41403 Social policy researchers, consultants and program officers)View NOC 41403→
Frequently Asked Questions for NOC 43203 (Border services, customs, and immigration officers)
Essential answers regarding Express Entry eligibility, LMIA prevailing wage compliance, and official reference letter rules.
Check Your Express Entry Score & Latest Cutoffs
Calculate your exact Comprehensive Ranking System (CRS) score for NOC 43203, explore your TEER 3 immigration pathways, and check recent draw cutoffs.